Transport in Libya

Railways

Libya has had no railway in operation since 1965, all previous narrow gauge systems having been dismantled. Current plans are to construct a 1.435-m standard gauge line from the Tunisian frontier to Tripoli and Misratah, then inland to Sabha, center of a mineral-rich area. Other plans made jointly with Egypt would establish a rail line from As Sallum, Egypt, to Tobruk with completion originally set for mid-1994. Libya signed contracts with Bahne of Egypt and Jez Sistemas Ferroviarios in 1998 for the supply of crossings and pointwork. Even more ambitious is a trans-Saharan line connecting to Central Africa including Niger and Nigeria. [(Jan 1, 2001) Briginshaw, David, [http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-69709357.html "Libya's First Two Railway Lines Start To Take Shape"] , "International Railway Journal", Accessed Dec 30, 2007.]

Maps

* [http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/libya.pdf UN Map]

Timeline

2008

*30 August - Russian Railways begins work on 554 km Sirt to Benghazi railway. [cite news | publisher="Railway Gazette International" | date=2008-09-01 | url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news_view/article/2008/09/8792/work_begins_on_libyan_railway.html | title=Work begins on Libyan railway ]

* 25 April - Russia to build coastal line from Sirt eastwards to Benghazi, approximately 500km. This extends another project to build a 352km line running from Sirt westwards via Misratah to Al Khums. [cite news | publisher=Railways Africa |date=2008-04-25 | url=http://railwaysafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2612&Itemid=35 | title=Benghazi Extension]

* These projects leave about 250km from Al Khums via the capital Tripoli to the Tunisian border perhaps near Ras Ejder, and 450km from Banghazi to the Egyptian border. The connecting line in Tunisia would need to be gauge converted.

* China Railway Construction wins $2.6b bids in Libya [ [http://www.chinaview.cn English_Xinhua ] ] [ [http://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11339024.htm Libya - Railpage Australia™ Forums (Africa) ] ] . A west-to-east coastal railway 352km from Al Khums to Sirt and a south-to-west railway 800km long for iron ore transport from the southern city Sebha to Misurata.

2007

* Google Earth reveals (2007) progress with the trackbed along the coast between the Tunisian border at Ras Ejder and Surt via Tripoli.

Railway links with adjacent countries

* Algeria - no
* Chad - no
* Egypt - no - proposed - same 1435mm gauge.
* Niger - no - proposed
* Sudan - no
* Tunisia - no - proposed - mostly same 1435mm gauge, but some 1000mm gauge would need to be converted to 1435mm.

Town served by rail

Existing

Proposed

The earthworks for the new lines under construction can be seen on the aerial photographs.

* Castelverde, Libya
* Fondugh el-Allus
* Fondugh an-Naqqazah
* Bani Hasan
* Al Khums - coast
* Al Jum'ah
* Al Ghiran

* Sirt - coast
* Sebha - southeast inland
* Misurata - port

Closed

Highways

"Total:"83,200 km
"Paved:"47,590 km
"Unpaved:"35,610 km (1996 est.)

There are about 83,200 km of roads in Libya, 47,590km of which are surfaced. 234 out of 1000 Libyans have cars, which is the highest rate in Africa.The best roads run along the coast between Tripoli and Tunis in Tunisia; also between Benghazi and Tobruk, connecting with Alexandria in Egypt. A fairly efficient bus services operates along these routes, with two main bus transport companies. One covers long-distance, international routes, while the other is chiefly engaged in shorter trips between towns. Bus fares are low and the standard of comfort, particularly on international routes is good, with air-conditioned vehicles and good service.

Taxis are available in the larger towns, and are usually hired on a shared basis, although individual hire can be negotiated. Driving skills of taxi drivers are extremely variable. Taxis may have meters, but these are rarely in use. Car hire for self-drive is not recommended in Libya, although it is possible to hire a vehicle from agents in larger hotels. Vehicles are often old and poorly-maintained, however, and are unequal to long-distance driving. Driving itself can be hazardous and there is a high rate of road accidents.

Regional highways

Libya has two routes in the Trans-African Highway network, but only one currently functions as such, the Cairo-Dakar Highway.

Waterways

There are no waterways in Libya.

Pipelines

condensate 225 km; gas 3,611 km; oil 7,252 km (2004)

Ports and harbours

Mediterranean Sea

* Al Khums
* Banghazi
* Darnah
* Marsa al Burayqah
* Misratah
* Ra's Lanuf
* Tobruk
* Tripoli
* Zuwarah

Merchant marine:

Total:17 ships (1000 GRT or over) 96,062 GRT/DWT|88,760|metric|first=yes By type:cargo 9, liquefied gas 3, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 4 (Kuwait 1, Turkey 2, UAE 1) (2005)

Airports

139 (2005) Most international flights arrive in and through Tripoli International Airport.

Airports - with paved runways

Total: 59 over 3,047 m: 23 2,438 to 3,047 m: 61,524 to 2,437 m: 23914 to 1,523 m: 5under 914 m: 2 (2005)

Airports - with unpaved runways

"Total:"80
"over 3,047 m:"5
"2,438 to 3,047 m:"2
"1,524 to 2,437 m:"14
"914 to 1,523 m:"41
"under 914 m:"18 (2005)

See also

* Libya

References